Syracuse police identify victim of homicide on Richardson Avenue

John Berry / The Post-StandardSyracuse Police Officer Dan Dadey, left, and Sgt. Rod Dalton made a sweep of the Danforth Middle School as they responded to a homicide that occurred in the 100 block of Richardson Avenue.

Syracuse, NY -- A man inside an SUV was shot and killed Friday morning on Syracuse’s Southside, with the SUV continuing on, crashing into a tree and catching fire after the shooting, Syracuse police said.

There are no suspects in custody, Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler said at the scene. Police have not identified the victim, who is Syracuse’s first homicide of the year.

The shooting occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on Richardson Avenue, a one-block street between West LaFayette Avenue and West Newell Street, Fowler said.

Police found the male dead behind the wheel of a Ford Flex, which crashed into a tree behind 148 Richardson Ave. Syracuse firefighters put out what the police chief described as a small fire in the Ford.

Shortly after the shooting, Syracuse police with guns drawn surrounded a vacant house around the corner at 435 W. LaFayette Ave., apparently led to the house by tracks in the snow. After a tense 10 minutes, officers determined that there was no suspects inside.

Richardson Avenue was shut down as officers as evidence in the street was marked. The Ford Flex, with door blackened by soot, was visible from the Bishop Foery Foundation parking lot on West Newell Street.

The large white house at 148 Richardson Ave. is the second house north of the intersection with West Newell Street.

A large police presence remained on Richardson Avenue through the day. “We’re working real hard to solve this,” Fowler said. Fowler asked that anyone with any knowledge of the shooting should contact police at 442-5222.

There were two homicides in the city by this date last year, according to Post-Standard records.

John Berry / The Post-StandardSyracuse police responded to a homicide on Richardson Avenue this morning.